Does a porn addict have to forsake porn BEFORE God will forgive them?

[Skinski7]

exactly it trips out the young and sends them reeling in selfcondemnation
ive already dealt with some that came here and heard this and voiced their
heart on the matter. Ive seen a couple threads it inspired and ive ministered
to a couple directly related to this.

Sending people into self condemnation by telling a sinner that they must forsake their sins?

What do you actually tell these people? That they don't actually have to do that? That to do so would be self righteousness and pride. Rather they just have to "trust" in Jesus and wait for God to make them stop?

 

[mark54]

Being crucified with Christ whereby the old man is put to death once and for all due to being utterly broken on the rock of Christ whereby an honest yielding to God from the heart is wrought sounds like a "self help book"?

"Being set free by one's own power" when the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men teaching them the way we ought to go, when the light that lights everyone who comes into the world is Jesus Christ?

Being set free bY ONES OWN POWER
Have I understood you correctly Skinski?

 

[Skinski7]

a-a-a-a-and their folly is evident to all.
you nailed it.

it would be laughable if they weren't doing so much damage.
eh....God will deal with the gapper-gang.

Alluding to the fact that false doctrines are a convenient crutch for an ongoing state of rebellion is "blaming one's sin on others"????

 

[Skinski7]

what is the difference between a babe and a mature believer?
is one more perfect in God's eyes than the other?

if they are saved they are saved.

does this have anything to do with sin?

does it have to do with knowing the scriptures?

past rebellion forgiven,....what about future sin?

can a believer (babe or mature) ever sin after being saved?

you said they both saved.

A mature believer has greater understanding than a babe. Neither are engaged in the sins of the flesh. If they are they need to need to depart from iniquity lest they be bundled together with the tares at the judgment and thrown in the fire.

There is no salvation IN sin. Salvation is FROM sin. If one is still IN sin then by definition they are not saved.

A prisoner is not free if he remains locked in a prison cell.

Nor has a Christian been delivered from the bondage of sin if they still yield to its dominion.

 

[mark54]

A mature believer has greater understanding than a babe. Neither are engaged in the sins of the flesh. If they are they need to need to depart from iniquity lest they be bundled together with the tares at the judgment and thrown in the fire.

There is no salvation IN sin. Salvation is FROM sin. If one is still IN sin then by definition they are not saved.

A prisoner is not free if he remains locked in a prison cell.

.

Oh Skinsky
I don't doubt your sincerity, but it is misdirected zeal

We need a Saviour every day, not just for conversion
And I am not sure you actually believe we need a Saviour at all, for to you WE forsake our sin, then God will accept us

Why do we need Jesus and the Holy Spirit if that is the case?

You seem to think we can do it all on our own

 

[Abiding]

Sending people into self condemnation by telling a sinner that they must forsake their sins?

What do you actually tell these people? That they don't actually have to do that? That to do so would be self righteousness and pride. Rather they just have to "trust" in Jesus and wait for God to make them stop?

Because of the times i spose ive worked with many men with issues with porn. They wanted free. And asked for help
and so we prayed together and went over some practicals and some bible.

Did i have to mention that they had to stop the sin? Dont make me laugh, they wanted to. So no never
have i ever had to tell anyone they needed to break from the sin. Ever!

Tenderness was necessary because a child of God has a tender conscience and needs mercy
and a helping hand. Why would i want to assist their already screaming conscience and the
conviction of the Spirit of God?

The scriptures tell me if i aid someone like that to do it in a spirit of meekness. See to me Skinski
i want to help them be free, Not just tell them what they already know. Its called footwashing.
Takes more than pontificating.

 

[willfollowsGod]

I am not going to go theological. But when I recommitted my life to Christ, I did forsake porn but lately I have still had issues. I know it is wrong and sinful but I am still having issues with it. Just pray that God would give me the self-control I need and that he would continue to mold my mind to His will. Thank you and God bless.

 

[mark54]

I am not going to go theological. But when I recommitted my life to Christ, I did forsake porn but lately I have still had issues. I know it is wrong and sinful but I am still having issues with it. Just pray that God would give me the self-control I need and that he would continue to mold my mind to His will. Thank you and God bless.

I am sure God will help you. Not many have the courage, or humility to admit what you have. God will never cast aside someone who who has those attributes, they prove the sincerity of the individual
God Bless
BTW
I hope you don't think you are the most worthless of Christians because of your struggle. Don't be fooled by others who are not as honest and open as you are

 

[zone]

Alluding to the fact that false doctrines are a convenient crutch for an ongoing state of rebellion is "blaming one's sin on others"????

uh...ya?

that's what you did,

and are doing,

but you are not and will provide the same provision for 'confusion' others are in.

you are living in a fantasy world skinski. or rather - you're presenting a fantasy about your own experience to others.
when you get real about taking responsiblity clearly and without equivocation, i might take you seriously.
until you do, why should i?

if you really had 'tapped into' God's Love, you wouldn't be here or running around writing letters - you'd be finding one person at a time who was 'unwittingly' sinning and in rebellion due to 'confusion' over ______fill-in-the-blank theology.

you'd have found one person at a time....not crushed them or anyone near them...and let the Word of God, from God Who is Love do the convicting, and the sanctifying.

2 Timothy 3
All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God
10You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whoma you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of Godb may be competent, equipped for every good work.

grow up skinski.

should i go back and get your explanation for why the Acts 2 believers were justified in a single day? LOL.

btw: how is anyone 'justified'?
does God declare them not guilty?
on what ground does He do that?

 

[Abiding]

Alluding to the fact that false doctrines are a convenient crutch for an ongoing state of rebellion is "blaming one's sin on others"????

Yes especially if it was porn as you say. False doctrine according to Paul is started by the people
themselves then they heap it up to themselves teachers having itching ears.

All here know we have both the conviction of the Spirit, and the nagging of the conscience.
So yes your blaming others is therefore a worldly sorrow that doesnt lead to godly sorrow
which is true repentance.

But since you want to ignore the sin nature i spose you would have to resort to blame others.
And believing in a sin nature does not remove the guilt of choosing to sin.

 

[zone]

A mature believer has greater understanding than a babe. Neither are engaged in the sins of the flesh. If they are they need to need to depart from iniquity lest they be bundled together with the tares at the judgment and thrown in the fire.

There is no salvation IN sin. Salvation is FROM sin. If one is still IN sin then by definition they are not saved.

A prisoner is not free if he remains locked in a prison cell.

Nor has a Christian been delivered from the bondage of sin if they still yield to its dominion.

i agree with you that Christ sets us from from bondage to sin.
where i laugh at you is your lightweight definition between the babe and the mature christian.

no salvation IN sin.

back to this again.

so, you pulled yourself up by your bootstraps onto dry ground; purified yourself; purged yourself of all sin - ALL.

then at some point God examined you inside out and discovered you were clean (no Jesus in your story so far...not surprising since you're not sure what He was doing on the Cross)...then He ...what? did He help you tap into His love?

or did you find out you access to the tap after you were sinless?

because no salvation in sin...you have to be completely out of all sin...away from it, without sin before God will save (love) you.

1 John 1:8
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

looks like John was never saved.

 

[zone]

Because of the times i spose ive worked with many men with issues with porn. They wanted free. And asked for help
and so we prayed together and went over some practicals and some bible.

Did i have to mention that they had to stop the sin? Dont make me laugh, they wanted to. So no never
have i ever had to tell anyone they needed to break from the sin. Ever!

Tenderness was necessary because a child of God has a tender conscience and needs mercy
and a helping hand. Why would i want to assist their already screaming conscience and the
conviction of the Spirit of God?

The scriptures tell me if i aid someone like that to do it in a spirit of meekness. See to me Skinski
i want to help them be free, Not just tell them what they already know. Its called footwashing.
Takes more than pontificating.

good morning

how anyone can claim to have had a true conversion and go on like he does is beyond me.

 

[Radius]

I guess this is for Skinski:
I haven't read the whole thread but I think I understand your position. Can I ask you a question?
How do you know that you have NOT sinned enough to be allowed into heaven? Have you seen the sins mentioned in the Bible? And they are all the same. You murder, you lie, it is a sin in God's eyes. You think unpure things, you look at a woman lustfully...these are all sins. You WON'T EVER NOT commit them all even until the day you die. Sin will wage war against the flesh until the day we die.

So again, I ask you--how much sin on your sin-o-meter is enough to cancel your faith in Jesus, render it null and void and be cast into hell? I think you are concentrating too much on works. What I'm getting at is where your mind is relating to your sins. Do you enjoy them? Do you not feel regret? Is sinning and living in it your life style? If so, then yes, you are probably are not saved. If it grieves you daily and you hate your sin (though you fall into it many times) and have asked God to save you, and you try to work to becoming more like Jesus every day, then you saved!

The sins you commit were cast on Jesus and only the good works you did for Christ will be considered for your reward in Heaven. It is the great and wonderful song we'll sing! We exchanged our wretchedness for Jesus' Righteousness, and when we are in Heaven, we won't be saying look at what I did (or sin I didn't commit and repented from) we will be exclaiming what Jesus did for us and the grace that was bestowed unto us by a loving God.

There are backsliders, and God will chastise them and bring them back into fellowship--if they still refuse to turn back then God may take their life. But they are still saved.

Grace. It's a wonderful thing, isn't it?

 

[Abiding]

I am not going to go theological. But when I recommitted my life to Christ, I did forsake porn but lately I have still had issues. I know it is wrong and sinful but I am still having issues with it. Just pray that God would give me the self-control I need and that he would continue to mold my mind to His will. Thank you and God bless.

Resisting temptation and humbling ourselves before God is the key. But i know that was glib.
The mind is where the battle is as you know. Pray about that because when you learn to captivate
thoughts the battle will be won.

If we entertain sinful thoughts more than a millisecond they will mix with desire....poof sin
But im sure you knew that.

We have been told to do this spiritual exercise so we must. Or we wont win. With constant prayer.
It always come down to obedience or selfgratification. And if you choose to have victory it will
be in your thoughts. Noone sins without first entertaining thoughts.

 

[cfultz3]

Resisting temptation and humbling ourselves before God is the key. But i know that was glib.
The mind is where the battle is as you know. Pray about that because when you learn to captivate
thoughts the battle will be won.

If we entertain sinful thoughts more than a millisecond they will mix with desire....poof sin
But im sure you knew that.

We have been told to do this spiritual exercise so we must. Or we wont win. With constant prayer.
It always come down to obedience or selfgratification. And if you choose to have victory it will
be in your thoughts. Noone sins without first entertaining thoughts.

How do you captivate thoughts?

 

[MidniteWelder]

How do you captivate thoughts?

The ACME Corporation a former 501(C)3 organization in cooperation with
The Current Administration of all that which has been precilitated
Used to sell a "snake charmer kit" for practice.
See...I just captivated your thoughts for about 3 sentences...
Its what one feeds their mind with or allows it to be entertained
or influenced by.
Taking it captive so that its no longer a slave to the flesh by meditating upon the thoughts of the Lord is the first step to recovery

 

[Abiding]

How do you captivate thoughts?

Thoughts that pop into your head that are sinful must be rejected immediately.
Some within the first second. The mind has to be guarded..in the OT it says

Guard your heart(mind) out of it comes the issues of life.

The NT says gird(tighten the belt) the loins of your mind. In otherwords
dont let any thought stay in your head that isnt right. Not for even seconds.
We are told to keep our minds belt tight. Its a task that is to Always be done.

When evil desire, and evil thoughts, and opportunity meet at once
that is called "the evil day" in the NT.

If a person has never kept their heart(stand guard) they should try it
its where the transformation of life comes. Its what Romans calls our
service to God. Its both out "worship" and our "sacrifice" to the Lord.

Oppps this could go on forever. So let me say this. In order to captivate
thoughts you first of all have to try. And dont give up, making small progress
is good, before long youll have mastered it. Be in charge of what you think.
And try not to dwell on yourself. Self is the root of sin. As well as pray in faith
for help and be thankful, and trusting because He will assist you.

 

[Abiding]

The ACME Corporation a former 501(C)3 organization in cooperation with
The Current Administration of all that which has been precilitated
Used to sell a "snake charmer kit" for practice.
See...I just captivated your thoughts for about 3 sentences...
Its what one feeds their mind with or allows it to be entertained
or influenced by.
Taking it captive so that its no longer a slave to the flesh by meditating upon the thoughts of the Lord is the first step to recovery

True emptying the mind will cause a vacuum. So we are told to entertain good thoughts, lovely things.
We can be in charge and must be in charge what we let in also. And our minds do need fed, and we
choose for the most part what we let in.

 

[SarahM777]

Being crucified with Christ whereby the old man is put to death once and for all due to being utterly broken on the rock of Christ whereby an honest yielding to God from the heart is wrought sounds like a "self help book"?

"Being set free by one's own power" when the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men teaching them the way we ought to go, when the light that lights everyone who comes into the world is Jesus Christ?

Did you even read the quote before that? You keep saying somehow we can only come to Him if somehow we clean our hearts long before we come to Him. Do you even know what it means to be broken on the "Rock"? Do you even know what it is like to even see a small tiny measure of His glory? Do you know what it's like to have your heart pierced to it's very depths and know the He sees it all,every little spot,every thought,every single word,and everything that was not done? An honest heart will see the total and absolute depths of what we really are before Him. You can not escape the utter and total ugliness in our hearts and just how truly far away we are from. He has every right to crush us and then throw us into that place that we so deserve. Have you even any clue of how deep and great His love and mercy is?

Do you even know how far He has brought me? Do you even have any clue what soever of how helpless I was? Do you have any idea at all what it means that Jesus came to set the captive free? I was that captive and it's only because of His love,grace and power that He broke those bonds in me. I have nothing and I am nothing. It is all Him. And I will not apologize for that.

 

[cfultz3]

Thoughts that pop into your head that are sinful must be rejected immediately.
Some within the first second. The mind has to be guarded..in the OT it says

Guard your heart(mind) out of it comes the issues of life.

The NT says gird(tighten the belt) the loins of your mind. In otherwords
dont let any thought stay in your head that isnt right. Not for even seconds.
We are told to keep our minds belt tight. Its a task that is to Always be done.

When evil desire, and evil thoughts, and opportunity meet at once
that is called "the evil day" in the NT.

If a person has never kept their heart(stand guard) they should try it
its where the transformation of life comes. Its what Romans calls our
service to God. Its both out "worship" and our "sacrifice" to the Lord.

Oppps this could go on forever. So let me say this. In order to captivate
thoughts you first of all have to try. And dont give up, making small progress
is good, before long youll have mastered it. Be in charge of what you think.
And try not to dwell on yourself. Self is the root of sin. As well as pray in faith
for help and be thankful, and trusting because He will assist you.

Thank you, Abiding.

So, it is like: I do not want to think about that, so I then force my thoughts upon God and over time, through prayer and trusting and KEEPING my mind off self, it becomes reality? I guess the emphasize is on "force". For the sake of me, some wrongful thoughts seem to get the better of me, no matter what I do to get rid of them. But, I think you told me the answer, do not dwell on me (what makes me happy).